Signature-handling mechanism.



C. GZNDANNER, S'GiJATURE HANDLING MECHANISM.

APPLiCATON HLED APRA 9, 2914.

Patentedune 8, i915.

si eine conronnrion or erigllini'runnnennmne Meenemen.

To zii vwhom it m ay conc/.2m

Be it known that I, CHARLES Gir-zeunixiqrcnn, ot New forli city7 in the County and State of New York, have invented s new und useful improvement in Signature- AElendling iileeiienisni, 'which invention is group t-lint constitutes a` bool; or Vpamphlet and to ireintein seid signatures in accurate alineiner they are progressed along said support or saddle to stitching or other mechanism. Y

The object is attained by support ing; tbe signatures by movable Ineens projiecting' through tlie einer; of the stationary saddle, said movable ineens supporting the signatures at e point above the stationary saddle whereby the letter nets simply as o guide to bold tlie signatures open. The other obiects are attained by providing arbore tbe saddle and longitudinally thereof signature-'supporting member on which the signatures are deposited either manually orineclionienlly und from which they .re removed, onto the inotsble Ineens above eterred to, by signotureengeginjr devices tliaty poss along tbe saddle with seid movable fneens. f

it is pointed out that heretofore the triction between tbe innermost signature of eoeii group and tbe saddle was very great, this being due to tlie foot tlint tlie signatures were entirely supported by the saddle. This friction caused the innermost signature to be fol-eed against tbe signature-engaging Ineens, usually e pin carried by the conveyer chain, tiret progressed the signatures along the seddle, thus bending or crumbling the edge of seid signature and causing tbe' saine to get out of alinement with tbeotlier signatures. This objection hos been obi'ieted by tlie present inyention.- y

It is further pointed dut that if the signatures *were deposited directly on tlie sod elle or on the movable means referred to1 Specification of Letters Extent.

Divided and this application led .eprl

diieulty would be experienced in causing there to exactly register with tne signatureengaging ineens. By depositing there, bowever, on :i supporting member in position to be engaged by tiie signature-engaging means and from Wliieli member they are readily removed onto the inoyeble ineens projecting through Jdie saddle, the signatures in each group are maintained in register Wit-li the signature-engaging ineens und in exact alineinent trito eoeb other.

Tite invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, illustratingI one expression oit the inventive idemand Wlieijiny Figure l is. e fragmentary elevation, showing the saddle ports of the coni/'eying chain, the signature-engaging pins and two supportin members on which the signatures are rst deposited; Fig. 2 is a transverse section through the saddle `end the movable Ineens on which the signatures rest; Fig. 3 is e side elevation corresponding to Fig. und ,4 is :1 perspective View showing :i signature resting on a supporting member in position to be contact-ed by e signatureengoging finger. 7 i

Referring to tlie drawings, wherein like reference numerals indicate lile ports, 190 indicates o substantially horizontal saddle mounted upon supports 191 upon the niuoliine freine. llflile, generally, this saddle is used association with ineens 'for nieolianieelly opening signatures, it is to be understood that the signatures may Abe innnueliy deposited thereon; und, Whether the signatures ere manually or mechanically deposited they are supported on the saddle with the b edge upward, ll/vlienrtlie registering device or supporting member, liereinefter described, is '.used.y tbe signatures will first tailor be deposited. upon it. lt will be seen that, when e. signature falls, it one or more signatures are beneath it upon tlie saddleE they will be inset with it. A sprocket chain 193 is associated with the saddle, and signature-engaging ineens, here shown as pins 192,' are carried by seid cli-ein and engage tbe Yedges of the signatures. rliese pins N2 project through e slot et the apex ottbe ssiddle. Means are also provided7 by one reature of the invention, for minimizing die friction between the signetures and tbe saddle :gse the signatures are E'ntented June i315..

progressed along the saddle and thus preventing bending or crumbling ofthe edges of the innermost signature by the pinl192, whereby it will be out of register with the other signatures When inset therewith.A To this end, I have, in the embodied form, mounted on the conveyer chain a series oi movable elements 189 that project through and above the saddle and in effect constitutey a movable or separate crown or apen for the saddle. Each element or section is suitably attached to a link oic the sprocket chain. The movable elements therefore travel with the chain and, being higher than the remainder of the saddle, support the signatures so that there is practically no friction between the signatures and the stationarz;7 parts 199 of the saddle, which parts thus act simply as a guide to hold the signatures open. By thussupporting the signatures as they are progressed along the saddle and eliminating friction, the signatures will be kept in alinement and in register with pins 192, if they have been properly alined and registered in the rst place. Means are therefore provided for insuring the registry of the successively dropped signatures whereby the signatures in any one group will be in alinement with each other upon. the movable elements 189. in the embodied form a plurality of; supporting members,

bars being arranged above the saddle so that the signaturesiinay be removed therefrom into engagement with the saddle. The

signatures are either manually or mechanically deposited on saidbars.

lngFig. d, 11() and 111 indicate two sets of any suitable signature-opening mechanisms that may be employed. Each bar is supported by an arm 219 from a rod 217, and is arranged horizontally and longitudinally of the direction oi. travel of thc signaal tures. Preferably each bar is substantially in line above the apex of the saddle. The free end ot the bar, that is, the other end from that to which .the supporting arin 219 is attached, extends in the direction of travel of the fingers 192 along the saddleA 190, so that the signature may be slid` oli the oar.

ln the operation ofthe form ot device illustrated, the signatures, whether deposited manually or mechanically, are deposited in open position on the supporting members or bars 218. When the pin 19'! arrives, if we assume that it has one signature, that signature will be registered against said pin which engages the edge thereof. This pin 192 will Contact with the edge of the opened .signature suspended upon the bar 218.,v rlhis latter signature will then be readily vslid .along the bar 218 by the pin 192 and, by

reason ot the inclination of the bar, will pass below the next succeeding bar 218 and into engagement with the saddle 190. lt

r groups of si.

view of the construction deslcribed `for progressing the groups of signatures along the saddle without friction, the signatures will,

be maintained in alinenient and register.

Vv'hile, for the purpose of illustration, one expression of the inventive idea has been shown and described with great particularity, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiment' shown but that the inventive idea may receive various mechanical expressions within the limits of the claims annexedfhereto. i i

I claim:

.'In combination, a support or saddle along-'Which groups of signatures' are conveyed., a conveyer movable along said saddle, supporting elements carried by said conveyer and projecting above said saddle, and signature; -engaging means carried by said conveyor.r

2. In fcombination, a support or saddle along which groups of signatures are conveyed,'a conveyer movable along said saddle, a plurality of projections carried' by said .conveyer and pifojecting above said saddle,

said conveyor. .v

3. In combination, a support along which atures are conveyed, a conveyer movab e along said support, supporting means carried by said conveyer and engaging the signatures above "said support,

and signature engaging means carried-by and signature-engaging means carried .by

said conveyer.

4. In combination, a support along which? groups of signatures are conveyed, a convcyer movable along said support, support- .ing means movable with said conveyor and engaging the signatures'above vsaid support,

and signature-engaging means carried by said conveyer.

5. In combination, a support .on Whichsignatures are held in open position, a member arranged above 'and longitudinally of said support on which signatures are held inv open position,- and a travelingv device 'which engages the open signatures on said member and removes them .endwise therefrom onto said support.

6j. In combination, a member on which signatures are held in open position, and a support on which the signatures are held.

open arranged below said member, said support including stationary and movable parts, i land a traveling signaturefngaging device that removes the signatures endwise from iso iid member into engagement with said support on which the signatures are held arranged below said member, said supoort including stationary parts and a inovl part proiecting Vabove said Stationary and a traveling signature-engaging that rcn'ioxzes the signatures endwise Vtroni member into engagement with said support.

Y combination, a member on which signatures are held in open position, and a support on which the signatures are lield open arranged belenY said '1nember, said support. including stationary and inovable parts, and a signature-engaging device travcling with said movable part and act-ing to remove the lsignatures endivise from said nioinber into engagement with said support.

i). n combination, a nieinber on which siguaures are held in open position, and a support on which the signatures are held open arranged lielov.' saidY member, said support including stationary parts and a ino, able part aimansed between said stationparts and projecting above the saine, and' a signature-engaging device traveling .vitli said movable part andv acting to' remove the signatures endvvise from said member into engagement with said support.

in combination, a support on which rra-tures are held in open giosit-ion, a plurality oi members arranged above and longitudinally of said support on which a plurality of signatures are held in open position, and a plurality' of traveling devices ivliirh cinema-e the open signatures n said members and remove theni endwise thereiiroin onto said support whereby one signature inset 'itliin another.

lo combination, a plurality of niembers or. which signatures are heldin open position. and a support arranged loelovr1 said invallers on which the signatures are held support includingV stationary and ull. parte, and a plurality oftraveling nati:irc-engaging devices that remove the signatures endwise from said members Vinto nient with said support, whereby one inset Within another. combination, a plurality of meni- 'l :li signaturesare held in open a support on ivlii'ch the signai nienibe-s, said support tionary parts and a movable cling above said stationary parts, d a g'ilurality ci traveling signature-enend se from said nienibers into engagement raids. i l support whereby one signature is nino another.

inset v.

13. ln combination, a plurality of menij. open .arranged below and lon-A meirf dei ices that remove the signatures bers on which signatures are held in open position, and a support on which the siUnatures are held open arranged below and` longitudinally of said members, said support including;r a pluality oi signature-engaging devices acting to remove the signatures endwise from said members into sagement with said support Vwhereby one signature is inset within another.

ll. ln combination, a plurality or niembers on which signatures are held in open position, and a support on which the signatures are held open arranged below and longitudinally ot said members, said support including stationary parts and a movable part arranged between said stationary parts and projecting above the saine, and a pluralityY oi' signature-engaging devices travelingavitli said movable part and acting to yremove the signature endwis'e from said members into engagement with said support hereby one signature is inset within another. A

l5. signature gatherer or insetting inachine lor assembling folded signatures, includingT in combination a signature conveying saddle having slanting sides upon which an opened signature may rest with its back edge upward, means Within said saddle and proj acting upwardly bet. 1een said sides for engaging the signatures and sliding them along said saddle, and supporting elements` plurality of separate sections traveling with said chair..

17. A signature gatherer or insetting niacliine for assembling folded signatures, including in combination a saddle having inclined separated sides, a sprocket chain traveling Within said sides, a finger extending upwardly from said'sproclet chain to slide signatures along; said saddle, and an apex-for said saddle consisting oi a plurality of separate sections fixed to andtravcling with said chain.

1S. ln combination, a support or saddle izo along which groups or' signatures are conveyed, a supporting member arranged above said saddle on. which supportingV member signatures are deposited, a conveyer movable along- Vsaidfsaddle, supporting means carried by said conveyor and projecting above 'said saddle, and signatureengaging means carried by said oonveyer iso and' removing the signatures Afromsaid supporting member onto said'supporting means carried by the eonveyer.` v

19. In combination"a supporter saddle along vwhich groups f signatures are conveyed, a supporting@ member arranged above said saddle on which .supportlng member signatures are deposited, a conveyer movable along said saddle, a plurality of projections carried by saidconveyer and projecting above Asaid saddle, and signatureengagingmeans carried. by said eonveyer and removing the signatures from said supporting member onto said plurality of elements carried byv the conv'eyer.

Q0. In combination, a support along which groups (if-signatures are conveyed, a supporting member arranged above said support, on which supporting member signatures from said member onto Saad-foiesz `ments. v

lran'gred above and longitudinallyio said natures are deposited, a conveyor movable along said support, supporting meansA earried by said conveyer and engaging the signatures above 'said support, and signatureengagng means carried by said conveyor and removing the signatures from said supporting member onto said supporting means carried by the oonveyerfv `211. In combination, a support along which groups of signatures are conveyed, a supporting member arranged `above said support, on which supporting member signatures are deposited, a conveyer movable along said support, supporting' means movable with said conveyer and engaging the signatures above said support, and signatureengaging means earriedby said Convev and removing the signatures from said supporting member onto said supporting means movable with said eonveyerl 23. In pmbination, a linked conveyor-foi` gtr-oups of signatures, supporting elements 'r said groups carried by said conveyor and.,Vv projectingupwardly,";-a member ai.

conveyer on which signatures are held i` ppe'n `position, and signature-engagin means associated with s'ai'd elements a removing said signatures'from said mem ber onto said elements.

A In combination, a linked conveyor fori' groups of signatures, supporting elements for said groups carried by said convdyerandprojeeting upwardly, said elements be-A ing lof inverted V-shape in cross-Sektion and one beingcarried, by each link, aniember arranged above Iand longitudinally of said eonveyer on which signatures are held in open position, and 'signature-engaging means associated with said elements and removing saidI signatures -from said mem,-

ber onto said elements.

In testimony whereof I have signed this speclication in the vpresence of two sub# scribing witn sses.

CHA LES GITZENDAN N ER.` Witnesses:- f v IVM. H. Hon'roN, G. B. WING. 

